17 December 2018

This is a joint press release with INQUEST and Centre for Women's Justice

Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem, 49, were killed outside Khaola’s home in Solihull in the West Midlands on 28 August 2018. Raneem’s former partner Janbaz Tarin has today pleaded guilty to their murder in Birmingham Crown Court.

Raneem and Khaola’s family now await an inquest into their deaths to examine the wider circumstances, particularly around the actions of police and social services.

During and following their relationship, Raneem had made numerous reports of domestic violence to the police. The Independent Office on Police Conduct are currently investigating the actions of the police. Their report is awaited.

The family are being supported by solicitors at Birnberg Peirce, the Centre for Women’s Justice, and INQUEST.

Nour Norris, sister of Khoala and aunt of Raneem stated, “Whilst we are relieved that Tarin has pleaded guilty, this is only the first step in the family’s struggle for justice and accountability. Our family have concerns not only about the failure of police emergency services to provide effective urgent assistance on the night of the double murder but also about the previous involvement of both the police and social services. We believe this terrible tragedy might have been prevented if more had been done by the police and social services to protect Raneem and intervene when the domestic violence escalated.”

Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST said, “This family and the public deserve answers as to whether these brutal deaths could have been prevented by systems that should be in place to protect women from violence. This prosecution will be followed by inquests, which is the only opportunity for public scrutiny of the conduct of state agencies.

There are well documented concerns about how statutory organisations respond to violence against women and girls, particularly those who are already marginalized. Robust examination of the actions of the state agencies must identify ongoing systemic failings to be addressed, to ensure that women fleeing violence are afforded better protection than Randeem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem.”

Harriet Wistrich, Director of Centre for Women’s Justice said, “We will be supporting the family of Khaola Saleem and Raneem Oudeh in their quest for further justice.  We understand that both West Midlands police and social services were aware of the history of domestic violence from Janbaz Tahin towards Raneem.    Whilst there is no criticism of the police investigation into the deaths, it is tragic that a higher standard of investigation only applies when it is too late.  The Centre for Women’s Justice have been collecting cases studies which support official statistics that only a very small proportion of domestic violence incidents are prosecuted, and many women find that their allegations are not proceeded with. Until violence against women is taken seriously before it escalates, such terrible tragic outcomes as in this case are inevitable”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information please contact:

Nic Mainwood, CWJ, on email or 07903 912 641,

Lucy McKay, INQUEST, on email or 020 7263 1111.

The Centre for Women’s Justice is a legal charity founded in 2016, which aims to advance the human rights of women and girls in England and Wales by holding the state to account for failures in the prevention of violence against women and girls. Bringing together specialist lawyers, academics and other experts in the field of violence against women with those working on the frontline as activists, survivors and service providers, the Centre aims to secure justice for female victims and survivors of male violence by undertaking strategic litigation, including intervening in appropriate cases.

INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, advice and support agencies, the media and parliamentarians. Our specialist casework includes death in police and prison custody, immigration detention, mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question, such as the deaths and wider issues around Hillsborough and Grenfell Tower. Our policy, parliamentary, campaigning and media work is grounded in the day to day experience of working with bereaved people. Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.